Alginate Hydrogel Integrated with a Human Fibroblast-Derived Extracellular Matrix Supports Corneal Endothelial Cell Functionality and Suppresses Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition
Euisun Song, Jae Won Kwon, Choul Yong Park, Jung-Taek Kang and Kwideok Park*,
{"title":"Alginate Hydrogel Integrated with a Human Fibroblast-Derived Extracellular Matrix Supports Corneal Endothelial Cell Functionality and Suppresses Endothelial–Mesenchymal Transition","authors":"Euisun Song, Jae Won Kwon, Choul Yong Park, Jung-Taek Kang and Kwideok Park*, ","doi":"10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00040","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p >Human corneal transplantation is still the only option to restore the function of corneal endothelial cells (CECs). Therefore, there is an urgent need for hCEC delivery systems to replace the human donor cornea. Here, we propose an alginate hydrogel (AH)-based delivery system, where a human fibroblast-derived, decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) was physically integrated with AH. This AH securely combined with the ECM (ECM-AH) was approximately 50 μm thick, transparent, and permeable. The surface roughness and surface potential provided ECM-AH with a favorable microenvironment for CEC adhesion and growth in vitro. More importantly, ECM-AH could support the structural (ZO-1) and functional (Na<sup>+</sup>/K<sup>+</sup>-ATPase) markers of hCECs, as assessed via western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, which were comparable with those of a ferritic nitrocarburizing (FNC)-coated substrate (a positive control). The cell density per unit area was also significantly better with ECM-AH than the FNC substrate at day 7. A simulation test of cell engraftment in vitro showed that hCECs were successfully transferred into the decellularized porcine corneal tissue, where they were mostly alive. Furthermore, we found out that the endothelial–mesenchymal transition (EnMT)-inductive factors (Smad2 and vimentin) were largely declined with the hCECs grown on ECM-AH, whereas the EnMT inhibitory factor (Smad7) was significantly elevated. The difference was statistically significant compared to that of the FNC substrate. Moreover, we also observed that TGF-β1-treated hCECs showed faster recovery of cell phenotype on the ECM. Taken together, our study demonstrates that ECM-AH is a very promising material for hCEC culture and delivery, which endows an excellent microenvironment for cell function and phenotype maintenance.</p>","PeriodicalId":8,"journal":{"name":"ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c00040","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MATERIALS SCIENCE, BIOMATERIALS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Human corneal transplantation is still the only option to restore the function of corneal endothelial cells (CECs). Therefore, there is an urgent need for hCEC delivery systems to replace the human donor cornea. Here, we propose an alginate hydrogel (AH)-based delivery system, where a human fibroblast-derived, decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) was physically integrated with AH. This AH securely combined with the ECM (ECM-AH) was approximately 50 μm thick, transparent, and permeable. The surface roughness and surface potential provided ECM-AH with a favorable microenvironment for CEC adhesion and growth in vitro. More importantly, ECM-AH could support the structural (ZO-1) and functional (Na+/K+-ATPase) markers of hCECs, as assessed via western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, which were comparable with those of a ferritic nitrocarburizing (FNC)-coated substrate (a positive control). The cell density per unit area was also significantly better with ECM-AH than the FNC substrate at day 7. A simulation test of cell engraftment in vitro showed that hCECs were successfully transferred into the decellularized porcine corneal tissue, where they were mostly alive. Furthermore, we found out that the endothelial–mesenchymal transition (EnMT)-inductive factors (Smad2 and vimentin) were largely declined with the hCECs grown on ECM-AH, whereas the EnMT inhibitory factor (Smad7) was significantly elevated. The difference was statistically significant compared to that of the FNC substrate. Moreover, we also observed that TGF-β1-treated hCECs showed faster recovery of cell phenotype on the ECM. Taken together, our study demonstrates that ECM-AH is a very promising material for hCEC culture and delivery, which endows an excellent microenvironment for cell function and phenotype maintenance.
期刊介绍:
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering is the leading journal in the field of biomaterials, serving as an international forum for publishing cutting-edge research and innovative ideas on a broad range of topics:
Applications and Health – implantable tissues and devices, prosthesis, health risks, toxicology
Bio-interactions and Bio-compatibility – material-biology interactions, chemical/morphological/structural communication, mechanobiology, signaling and biological responses, immuno-engineering, calcification, coatings, corrosion and degradation of biomaterials and devices, biophysical regulation of cell functions
Characterization, Synthesis, and Modification – new biomaterials, bioinspired and biomimetic approaches to biomaterials, exploiting structural hierarchy and architectural control, combinatorial strategies for biomaterials discovery, genetic biomaterials design, synthetic biology, new composite systems, bionics, polymer synthesis
Controlled Release and Delivery Systems – biomaterial-based drug and gene delivery, bio-responsive delivery of regulatory molecules, pharmaceutical engineering
Healthcare Advances – clinical translation, regulatory issues, patient safety, emerging trends
Imaging and Diagnostics – imaging agents and probes, theranostics, biosensors, monitoring
Manufacturing and Technology – 3D printing, inks, organ-on-a-chip, bioreactor/perfusion systems, microdevices, BioMEMS, optics and electronics interfaces with biomaterials, systems integration
Modeling and Informatics Tools – scaling methods to guide biomaterial design, predictive algorithms for structure-function, biomechanics, integrating bioinformatics with biomaterials discovery, metabolomics in the context of biomaterials
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine – basic and applied studies, cell therapies, scaffolds, vascularization, bioartificial organs, transplantation and functionality, cellular agriculture